SERVICES

Services

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Services provided by the Vestal Volunteer Fire Department include not only extinguishing structure, vehicle, and other fires, but also responding to rescues, motor vehicle extrications, water rescue calls, as well as responding to fire alarms, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, wires down, hazardous materials incidents, and other emergencies and calls for assistance or service within the Town of Vestal, and mutual aid calls for assistance from our surrounding communities.

In addition to mandated New York State Training Courses to initially become a firefighter, additional specialized New York State Fire and Rescue Training Courses provide detailed training to our members. Members also train in-house weekly on various topics related to our duties, including hands-on training at the Fred W. Singer Training Facility, a 501c3 non-profit facility owned and operated by the Vestal Fire Department, and utilized by member and non-member area fire departments. The Fred W. Singer Training Facility includes a 2-story concrete block burn building, a 2-story wood frame search building, including a maze and search challenges, a roof simulator, an enclosed classroom facility, and a pump test tank. Additional training is also conducted for our specialized teams. Specialized teams within our department include a Water Rescue Team, a Command Assistance Team, Fire Police, our Training Division, a Computer Support Team, as well as Apparatus Replacement Committees, Station replacement Committees, and other committees as needed.

2015 Call Breakdown

Call volume of the Vestal Fire Department is shown in the graph below. In addition to responding to emergencies and calls for assistance within the Town, we also respond to fire alarms and emergencies on the SUNY Binghamton University Campus.

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Responses to fire alarms on the SUNY Binghamton University Campus has been reduced through programming of alarm systems allowing single detector activations to be investigated by Campus personnel as a supervisory signal, prior to activation of the Fire Department. Those fire alarms not able to be reprogrammed in this manner are responded to by a single engine company (Engine 32-4), pending notification of a true emergency, which results in a full response by the Vestal Fire Department.

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We are always in need of new volunteers! We have a job for everyone!

WATER RESCUE

The Vestal Fire Protection District contains the Susquehanna River, which flows along the town's northern border, as well as several large creeks and ponds. In 1996 it was decided to form a team of volunteers who would receive specialized training in dealing with the unique hazards of performing rescues in and near these bodies of water. Hence the Vestal Fire Department's Water Rescue Team was formed.

The team is led under the direction of a Team leader and two assistants appointed by the Vestal Fire Department special operations Chief. It consists of 24 members. 18 Certified swift water technicians, and 6 shore support personnel.

This training takes place the first Sunday of every month and is in addition to the regular weekly training given to all Vestal Fire Department members.

The team responds to all water rescue calls in the Town of Vestal. The majority of water rescue equipment is provided by the two Boat units although a call within the Vestal Fire District could include one of the four zone engines. Each engine carries a first responder kit containing two: Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), Helmets, and 70' Throw Bags.

OVERVIEW OF THE VFD WATER RESCUE PROGRAM

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

To promote and maintain the current Vestal Volunteer Fire Department's Water Rescue Program which is a structured attempt at improving the training, equipment, pre-planning, and general knowledge relating to water rescue type incidents within the district.

To provide a structured water rescue response for mutual aid calls to our neighboring departments.

TRAINING

Monthly Training Sessions on the first Sunday (classroom, pool, river, or pond)

FIRE POLICE

History

New York State’s first use of fire police was in 1839 in New York City. The “Fire Patrol” was to protect the interests of the Fire Underwriters. The Association of Fire Insurance Companies employed 40 men as a fire police force whose duty was a night patrol of the mercantile district of New York City.

Vestal

In 1952, when the Vestal Fire Department was incorporated, Article 8 of the constitution and by-laws stated that “As provided in Section 209-C of the General Municipal Law and Company By-Laws. Fire Police shall operate under procedure as set up by the Department Advisory Board”.

In 1965, Article 8 grew into 7 sections related to the fire police.

Section 1, Squad

Section 2, Membership

Section 3, Number

Section 4, Approval of Membership

Section 5, Captain of Fire Police

Section 6, Duties

Section 7, General Municipal Law

In 1965, their duties at this time stated “Duties shall be to act as traffic officers, prevent the hose from being driven over, keep unauthorized persons away from burning buildings or from structures in which fire has been extinguished, guard salvaged goods and see that firemen are not hampered in their work. Such other duties as may be provided by law or that may be applicable to them.”

Today’s Duties

To act as peace officers keeping unauthorized persons away from emergency scene, see that firefighters are not hampered in performing their duties and controlling traffic at emergencies, and shall operate under the Incident Command System. Such other duties as directed by the incident commander.

Fire Police Are Firefighters First

Traffic Control

Scene Safety

Scene Security

Traffic Control

Scene Safety

Scene Security

Be Aware of suspicious activity around the scene

May be asked to perform Firefighter duties

Fill Air Bottles

Set Ladders

Other misc. duties

Firefighters and Fire Police mesh as one cohesive unit

Firefighters wishing to be assigned to the fire police squad in Vestal must be 21 years of age or older

Members must have successfully completed NYS Firefighter 1 or NYS Scene Support and NYS Fire Police Course

They shall also take an oath provided in General Municipal Law, Section 209-C

The fire police captain, and the fire police lieutenants in his absence, under the direction and supervision of the fire officers, shall have charge of and direct the activities of the fire department fire police squad, and shall serve as a Fire Advisory Board staff member.

If this is something you feel interested in doing, stop down to one of your local fire stations and inquire. Monday Evenings after 6pm is when all the stations are usually manned for training or meeting night. Or contact the Vestal Fire Department Business Office.

OTHER DUTIES

Assures that the data carried on the Fire Prevention / Command Post vehicle (CV-32) is up to date. This data contains information on fire preplans, hazardous materials in the town, and recent fire inspections.

Sponsors, sets up, and runs the annual Fire Safety Expo

Education & Fire Safety

The Fire Prevention and Safety Team visits many schools and events throughout Vestal each year teaching Fire Safety and property conservation.

In 2016 alone, the Fire Prevention team will have attended 9 schools, along with 9 other events presenting to over 2235 children in Fire Prevention and Fire Safety.

Call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 321-6033 for any questions.

COMMAND ASSISTANCE TEAM

MISSION of Command Assistance Team (CAT):

The primary mission of CAT is to provide the Incident Commander an organized collection of information, processing of the information and incident factors, and display of information. Provide competent evaluation and rapid dissemination of pertinent tactical information and intelligence to command and control personnel.

The secondary mission of CAT is to provide assistance in specified positions:

Liaison Officer

CAT members may be placed into roles supporting general staff positions: